Question or rather thoughts on meds | Arthritis Information

In june I was switched from Remicade to Humira. I took one injection and was in the hospital the next day with a white count of 20,000. The white count went as high as 40,000 before starting back down again. Then my RD, on top of 15 mg MTX weekly and the Humira ups my pred to 100mg daily for a few weeks. I went to 75 from there, then to 70mg. Everything stayed the same until I ended up with shingles and cellulitis, and in the hospital again in Sept. My pcp said he would seriously give thought to asking to be taken off the Humira and trying Enbrel again. My RD was happy to try it. Well, three weeks later and still nada....zip....zero. Only thing that puzzles me is my ESR is 2 !!!

When I took Enbrel several years ago I seem to remember feeling some benefit from it at around the three week mark. This is making me wonder if anything will work for me again. I tried Kineret when it came out..nothing. Enbrel after that...it worked for almost 3 1/2 years and then poof. Remicade...I suspect it never did a thing as I'm now in the worst flare in nearly 16 years. And well the Humira I explained above.

Does anyone here think it's possible for RA to just become so aggressive that none of the treatments will work on it? I'm really starting to run out of options here. I've also tried Imuran, plaquenil, and if I remember correctly minocin. I even took gold injections as a child. I hope I'm just being paranoid, but what do you all think?

Bob H

the tnfs may not be the right meds for you. You still have options of rituxan, orencia or kineret and even acterma when its approved.

I've been through everything without a lot of luck. I've stabalized on rituxan..no more big flares..still some smoldering stuff but we are working on that

I don't know Bob but I sure hope that's not the case. Best of luck to you in finding something that works!Did Kineret too. It was back several years ago when Enbrel was in short supply and there actually was a wait list to get it. So the only option was to give Kineret a try. I did give me some slight relief but then Enbrel became available and my doc liked it much more than the Kineret. I think it was because the Kineret was daily whereas Enbrel was twice weekly at the time. I'm giving some serious thought to asking her if, after a month or so Enbrel isn't doing anything, we can try Orencia. No answers for you Bob...just wanted to say I sure hope they find something to work for you....feel better soon!

I have traveled up the biologic ladder...first Enbrel, then Humira, then Remicade, and Rituxan. Some worked for several years, while others (Humira and Rituxan) didn't work at all. I'm currently on Orencia, and so far have responded better than with any of the others. I've been on it for almost a year, and although we've had to up the dose to 1000mg weekly, it's still working wonderfully. It's something you should definitely consider, given your track record. There are also several new drugs that haven't been approved yet, so don't give up!